Mandatory nitrox % testing and tank fill pickup

[prunefoot]

i purchased two new tanks, as discussed in another post. I'm out of town all this week for work, then tomorrow I'm driving home then Saturday morning I'm heading down to the gulf for a diving week and work towards some additional certs.
I dropped the two new tanks off last Saturday at the local shop to be inspected and nitrox filled ($80 for both). The guy there checked my nitrox cert and said they would be done by today. Again I am out of town until tomorrow late afternoon and we are leaving Saturday morning.
I asked my wife to stop by and pick up the filled tanks. She called them today and told her somebody that had a nitrox cert had to be there to test them before they would let the tanks be picked up. She said they acted on the phone like they would not let the tanks leave without that. She is not nitrox certified, only OW.

All of my previous dives have been with rental nitrox tanks that were delivered to the boat or location and they had the percentage written on a piece of tape. Every time. I have never bad to test them myself.

I remember in my nitrox class the instructor saying it's good practice to test your own tanks but I thought he said if you dived with a reputable shop it wasn't mandatory. I don't even own a tester.

Is that normal?
Thanks!

 

[scubadada]

I believe the tanks must be analyzed by you or be analyzed in your presence to that you can sign off on the nitrox log. This is a good time to make sure that the fill is good and up to pressure. Get your wife nitrox certified, easy to do online with a short visit to the LDS to go over the exam and analyze a couple of tanks.

I would never dive tanks that somebody else had "analyzed" and written the mix on a piece of tape. It's your life. When I rent tanks and they are delivered to the boat, I analyze them again, myself. Who's a reputable shop, who's a reputable filler?

 

[guruboy]

The reason you need to analyze on pickup is that they want a record of you having verified the mix yourself before you leave (in case something happens). It's a liability thing.

They should have an analyzer at the shop you can borrow though.

Whether you specifically have to do it is a different matter. But presumably someone who understands what is going on needs to do it (hence requiring nitrox cert).


Regarding your other point about testing on site, I have always had the tanks re-tested prior to diving, even when on a boat. Usually the boat has the analyzer and the DM will come around and do it while I watch. The number on the tape is from when they tested at the fill station.

Note that this isn't something I specifically request. It's just always been part of the standard process where I dive.

 

[prunefoot]

Good points. I'm going to have her FaceTime call me so I can watch them and see the percentage. Maybe that will work.

 

[tbone1004]

what they all said. It's a liability thing because the mix can become toxic at recreational depths. Not an abnormal practice especially at recreational shops. In the tech diving world no one checks or cares, but it is also largely banked nitrox so it's a bit different.

That price is scary though....

 

[Storker]

When I got my nitrox cert, I bought an Analox. I always analyze my tanks on the site, just before attaching the reg. People have died from not knowing what they had in their tanks.

 

[shurite7]

All good points above. I teach all my students they are to analyze each and every tank they dive nitrox with, even rentals. I'm surprised to read that you didn't analyze the tanks brought to you. Never assume what type or percentage of gas is in the tank you are going to breathe - verify it.

At my LDS the owner must analyze their tank(s) and fill out the nitrox log before it can leave the shop. Otherwise it remains in the store.

Now you have a really good reason to convince your wife to get nitrox certified.

 

[scubadada]

Good points. I'm going to have her FaceTime call me so I can watch them and see the percentage. Maybe that will work.

Interesting tech solution, how will you sign the log, electronically?

 

[prunefoot]

Interesting tech solution, how will you sign the log, electronically?

Gah! Stumped me. Gotta think on that one.

 

[scubadada]

When I got my nitrox cert, I bought an Analox. I always analyze my tanks on the site, just before attaching the reg. People have died from not knowing what they had in their tanks.

Hi @Storker

I do most of my diving from my home in SE FL. I have a little kit with an Analox, tank pressure gauge (easier and faster than transferring your reg set), painter's tape and a Sharpie. As I don't have any of my tanks in FL, I always have rentals. When I board the boat, I analyze all my tanks, between 2 and 4, and record the values on my own tape. Not only does this insure that my tanks are appropriately analyzed, but I can choose the best tanks for the dive, depending on mix and fill. This works very well for me.

Good diving, Craig